Superheater.



i W. JOHNSON.Y

SUPERHEATER.

APPucATloN HLED 111111; 29. 1914.

1.915,51.. Patented 001. 19, 1915.

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WALTER JOHNSON, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

" SUPERHEATER.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Uct. I9, M015..

Application led .Tune 29, 1914. Serial No. 847,958.

To all whom 1f-may concern.'

Be it known that I, `WALTER JOHNSON, a citizen of the Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Superheaters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a super-heater and particularly pertains to an apparatus which is especially adapted for use with a gasolene motor such as is employed on automobiles and the' like and by means of which steam and air drawn from the radiator of the motor and delivered into the motor through the intake manifold may be superheated by the hot gases exhausted from the motor.

It is the object of this invention to provide a steam and air` super-heater of the above character which will serve to increase the speed and power of the motor, effect a saving of gasolene and oil, remove the lcarbon from the interior of the motor cylinders, thereby keeping the spark plugs clean, and which is so mounted and arranged that the steam and air in the radiator may be withdrawn therefrom by suction induced by the motor.

A further object isto provide a superheater of simple and economical construction and which can be readily applied to the exhaust pipe of the types of gasolene motors now generally in use to utilize the heat radiating from the exhaust pipe in performing the superheating function. The invention comprises a tubular coil arranged to encircle the exhaust pipe of a gasolene motor with one of its terminals connecting with a tube leading to the upper portion of a water cooling radiator and terminating above the water level therein and the other terminal of which connects with a conduit connecting .with and opening into the intake manifold of the motor and connecting therewith at a point adjacent its connection with the carbureter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a gasolene engine as applied to an automobilel showing the radiator, engine cylinders, intake manifold, exhaust manifold and illustrating the super-heater as attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the super-heater United States, residing at 1 illustrating its connections to the radiator and manifold in diagram.

More specifically, l indicates the radiator which connects with a gasolene motor and through which water is.circulated for cooling purposes in the usual-manner. Connecting with the radiator and opening to the upper portion thereof above the water level therein is a pipe 2 which is fitted with a cut 0H' or regulating valve 3 at any suitable point intermediate its ends and connects at one end to the intake manifold 4 of the motor. Arranged intermediate the ends of the pipe 2 is a tubular coil 5 which encircles lthe exhaust' manifold 6 of the motor and is detachably connected at its ends tothe limbs of the pipe 2 by means of joints 7 and 8 of any suitable construction; the joints 7 and 8 preferably comprising union pipe connections which will permit of the coil 5 being readily attached to and removed from the pipe 2. The heating coil 5 may be of any desired length and may be coiled around the exhaust manifold with as many coils as may be necessary to eect a proper super-heating of the steam and air drawn therethrough.

The pipe 2 is threaded at the end thereof which joins with the manifold 4 and is screwed into a boss 9 formed on the latter, as particularly shown in Fig. 2. The intake manifold pipe 4 connects to Vthecylinders 10 of the motor` in the usual manner and also connects with a carbureter 11. The connection between the pipe 2 and the manifold l is preferably arranged adjacent the connection with the carbureter 11, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the invention when it is desired to admit super-heated steam and air to the intake manifold and motor, the

valve 3 is opened whereupon the suction induced in the intake manifold 4 will operate to draw steam and air from the upper portion of the radiator through the pipe 2 and coil 5'. 'Ihe steam and air on passing through the coil 5 becomes super-heated to a high degree of temperature by reason of the radiation of heat from the exhaust manifold 6 acting on the coil 5. rI`he highly heated steam and air on entering the intake manifold 4 causes a rapid disintegration of the hydrocarbon vapors drawn thereinto through the carbureter 11 and forms, in part, a permanent gas, which on being exploded in the motor cylinders, burns without forming carbon deposits, and causes combustion of su'ch carbon as may have previously accumulated in the cylinders. This super-heated steam serves to enrich ,the explosive mixture so that increased power and speed of the motor is obtained as compared-with the power and speed 'obtained without the use of the super-heater.

A less consumption of gasolene is effected where the steam admitted to the manifold is super-heated, thus cheapening the cost of operation. The control Valve 3 serves as a means for controlling or shutting off the supply of super-heated steam or air as desired. When the control valve 3 is closed the motor will runthe same as though not equipped with the super-heater5 and' when it is open the power and speed of the motor is increased and the gasolene and oil consumption is reduced accordingly.

Wha-t I claim 1s:

l. The combination with the radiator, intake manifold and exhaust manifold of a gasolene motor, of a tubular super-heating coil encircling the exhaust manifold, and a pipe between the terminals of which said coil is interposed, one end of which pipe leads to and opens in the radiator above the water level therein and the other end of which connects with the intake manifold.

2. A steam and air super-heater for gas engines comprising the combination with a radiator, intake manifold. and exhaust manifold of the engine, of a pipe, one end of which opens to the interior of the radiator above the water level therein, and the opposite end of which connects with and opens to the interior of the intake manifold, a regulating valve for controlling the iow of steam and air through said pipe, and a super-heating coil .interposed in said pipe andfwound around the exhaust manifold, by' which steam and air passing through the pipe may be highly heated by radiation of heat from the exhaust manifold.

I reserve the right to make changes in construction and installation, as long as I do not depart from my original claims.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTER JOHNSON.

Witnesses M. COCKBURN, A. B. JONES. 

